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In Remembrance of SP4 James E Berry

6 May 2010
—Monticello, IN

SP4 James Berry was assigned to 3rd Platoon Bravo Company 2nd Battalion 27 Infantry Regiment Wolfhounds 25th Infantry Division Cu Chi Vietnam. SP4 Berry started his tour in Vietnam on April 20, 1968 and was killed on January 9, 1969. Bravo Company was assigned to pull security on top of Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin Mountain) north of Tay Ninh. There were several Signal Units setup on the very top of the mountain with a bunkline surrounding the area for security. We reconned by fire down the mountain, periodically, all night long, with small arms and munitions such as various types of grenades just to assure that the enemy wouldn't try to approach and over-run us. Charlie owned the mountain, our job was to keep him away from the top. I was in the bunker with Berry and Polk. Berry had just come in the bunker to wake Polk up for his turn at guard duty and had went back out of the bunker. Polk got up and went out. All of a sudden I heard some one yell Gooks!!! Gooks!!!! and a lot of firing. At the same time I heard Berry yell, "Polk !!, Don't shoot, it's me!!" from out in front of the bunker. I ran out and jumped on top of the bunker to see Polk now shooting down over the mountain with the M60 machine gun. At that time, I wasstruck in the face with shrapnel and was knocked off the bunker. It appeared Berry had went out front to relieve himself when Polk saw the shadow and started firing. The medic came running down in his bare feet to tend to Berry. He had several wounds in his chest and was bleeding badly. They called in a dust-off and that is the last we saw of SP4 Berry. Doc then came in the bunker to see how badly I was hit because I had blood was all over my face. Turned out I took a piece of shrapnel in the upper lip and chipped a tooth, no big deal. The military listed it as a misadventure. This incident as remembered and told to me by one of his un-named fellow platoon members. Rest in peace, Wolfhound, and you will never be forgotten. Posted and shared here by Gerald Maddock 2nd Platoon 2/27 Wolfhounds